Fin Aid for Commuters

<p>So very quick question, when applying for financial aid I checked the "on campus" housing on FAFSA and that's how my eFan that I got from UCLA was offered to me. However, between March and now, I have decided to commute/get an apartment and drive from there for fall quarter and I declined my housing offer since I wouldn't be needing it. The eFan says to notify UCLA of any housing plan change before accepting your offer. My question is, how positively or negatively will I be affected if I change my housing plan to "apartment" on the eFan? Will I get less aid as a result? More? Anyone know at all how financial aid works for people not in dorms but in apartments etc?</p>

<p>Your Estimated Cost of Attedance will be lower (via the provided link) and thus your financial need will be lower. I don’t know how this will affect you, if for example they will drop some of the loans or they will cut into the grants (my guess would be the latter - cheap bastards).
<a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/publications/2011-2012/UG_&_G_Budgets.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/publications/2011-2012/UG_&_G_Budgets.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>On a side note, off-campus and commuter, the only difference is commuter = live w/ parents or relatives, and I’m assuming this means free of charge. With this, I’m assuming that paying them rent means I’m labeled as off-campus.</p>

<p>Thank you, that is a helpful link. That’s pretty harsh if they cut grants first before loans. I was trying to save money by getting an apartment, not increase my loan amount. </p>

<p>If it ends up that it’s just cheaper to get a dorm, is it possible for me to reapply for housing for the winter quarter since I declined for fall since I have a place to stay during the first quarter of UCLA?</p>